A field of 15 went to post for the 2024 renewal of this festive highlight. Having finished second in the 2023 edition, the Jonjo and A J O’Neill-trained Iron Bridge started as the joint-favourite to go one better. If Iron Bridge failed to deliver, the O’Neill’s had a strong second string to their bow in Monbeg Genius, who looked like a big race winner in waiting when third in the 2023 Ultima Handicap Chase.
Welsh handler Sam Thomas sent a potent two-pronged attack into battle. Jubilee Express arrived on the back of an impressive win at Haydock, whilst Iwilldoit had been there and bought the T-shirt in this event, having landed the 2021 edition.
Kerry Lee’s Atlanta Brave was another proving popular with punters as he stepped up to this trip for the first time. As was the Mel Rowley runner Val Dancer, who hinted that this sort of test would suit when scoring over 3m2f at Carlisle on his seasonal return.
Others to note included Dan Skelton’s Galia Des Liteaux, who ran a cracker over just short of this trip in the Classic Chase; the Irish duo of Where It All Began and Evies Vladimir; and the Venetia Williams-trained Fontaine Collonges, who had the class to prevail, if seeing out the trip.
Result
- 1st – Val Dancer 8/1, Jockey: Charlie Hammond, Trainer: Mel Rowley
- 2nd – Jubilee Express 6/1J, Jockey: Dylan Johnston, Trainer: Noel Sam Thomas
- 3rd – Iwilldoit 10/1, Jockey: Callum Pritchard, Trainer: Sam Thomas
Prize Money Breakdown
- 1st – £85,425
- 2nd – £32,055
- 3rd – £16,050
- 4th – £7,995
- 5th – £4,020
- 6th – £2,010
Tote and Forecast Payouts
- Tote Win – £9.20
- Tote Places – 1st – £3.30, 2nd – £2.70, 3rd – £3.60
- Exacta – £73.40
- Computer Straight Forecast (CSF) – £59.75
- Trifecta – £593.30
- Tricast – £507.58
Recap
Fifteen went to post for the 2024 Welsh Grand National. However, for much of the contest, it was hard to see any of them as a blanket of fog settled on the Chepstow track. Peering through the murk revealed that the rank outside of the field, Amateur, set out to make the running, followed through by Joe Tizzard’s No Hubs No Hoobs, Your Own Story, and Val Dancer.
Moving into the backstretch, Amateur had opened up a six-length lead over the field, with No Hubs No Hoobs heading up the well-grouped chasing pack. Val Dancer continued to race prominently with the Sam Thomas duo of Iwilldoit and Jubilee Express. Monbeg Genius settled into a decent rhythm in midfield with Where It All Began, Iron Bridge, and Evies Vladimir held up in the rear.
There was little change in the order as the runners approached the last fence on the back straight. Amateur continued to bowl along in front, with Val Dancer travelling nicely behind. Iwilldoit had advanced through the pack, but topweight Fontaine Collonges was beginning to struggle at the rear of the field.
Heading out onto the final circuit, No Hubs No Hoobs pressurised Amateur for the lead. Galia Des Liteaux, Classic Concorde and Iron Bridge took closer order, whilst Fontaine Collonges had passed a couple of runners to relegate the patiently ridden Where It All Began to last.
Losing the runners to the Welsh mists, our next clear sight of the action came as the field approached the turn for home. With Amateur and No Hubs No Hoobs giving way, Val Dancer and Iwilldoit had kicked for home. Classic Concorde, Galia Des Liteaux and Atlanta Brave were making limited progress in pursuit, but from nowhere, Where It All Began loomed full of running on the heels of the leaders. Jubilee Express plugged on well but struggled to match the change of gear of the leading duo.
Approaching the fourth last, Where It All Began’s challenge came to an end with a terrible blunder. Val Royal and Iwilldoit forged four lengths clear of Jubilee Express with Monbeg Genius one-paced but staying on in fourth.
Over the last, Val Dancer finally cracked Iwilldoit. The final challenge came in the shape of Jubilee Express who finished like a train. However, his effort came too late as Val Dancer hung on to score by a length and a half.
It was a first Welsh Grand National success for small Shropshire handler Mel Rowley, who registered the biggest win of her career to date. Jubilant winning rider Charlie Hammond hailed this as the highlight of his career.
Runners
- 1. Fontaine Collonges – SP: 11/1, Trainer: Venetia Williams, Jockey: Ned Fox
- 2. Iwilldoit – SP: 10/1, Trainer: Sam Thomas, Jockey: Callum Pritchard
- 3. Monbeg Genius – SP: 10/1, Trainer: Jonjo & A J O’Neill, Jockey: Nick Schofield
- 4. Galia Des Liteaux – SP: 8/1, Trainer: Dan Skelton, Jockey: Harry Skelton
- 5. Stuzzikini – Non-runner
- 6. Iron Bridge – SP: 6/1J, Trainer: Jonjo & A J O’Neill, Jockey: Jonjo O’Neill Jr
- 7. Where It All Began – SP: 10/1, Trainer: Gordon Elliott, Jockey: Sean Bowen
- 8. Your Own Story – SP: 20/1, Trainer: Lucinda Russell, Jockey: Derek Fox
- 9. The Newest One – SP: 12/1, Trainer: Nigel Twiston-Davies, Jockey: Sam Twiston-Davies
- 10. Jubilee Express – SP: 6/1J, Trainer: Sam Thomas, Jockey: Dylan Johnston
- 11. Val Dancer – SP: 8/1, Trainer: Mel Rowley, Jockey: Charlie Hammond
- 12. Amateur – SP: 125/1, Trainer: John & Rhys Flint, Jockey: Jack Tudor
- 13. No Hubs No Hoobs – SP: 14/1, Trainer: Joe Tizzard, Jockey: Brendan Powell
- 14. Atlanta Brave – SP: 15/2, Trainer: Kerry Lee, Jockey: Adam Wedge
- 15. Evies Vladimir – SP: 10/1, Trainer: Gavin Cromwell, Jockey: Conor Stone-Walsh
- 16. Classic Concorde – SP: 50/1, Trainer: David Brace, Jockey: Connor Brace
Non-Runners
Stuzzikini (vet’s certificate)